Latest News

29 December  2017

Thurso Hogmanay Street Party


Starts 10.00pm - Ends 1.00am

St John Square, Thurso.





Wick Hogmanay Street Party
Starts 10.30pm in Market Square, Wick


Live Streaming from 10.30pm HERE

23 December  2017

Bird Backpacks And Attack-proof Sensors For Some Scorries
Miniature bird backpacks containing solar-powered GPS systems or tracking tags on tail-feathers could transform our understanding of how wild birds move around offshore wind farms. The technologies are among the suggestions put forward by four pioneering companies responding to an innovation challenge from the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, working on behalf of Moray Offshore Windfarm (East) Ltd (Moray East), with the project supported by Beatrice Offshore Wind Ltd, Marine Science Scotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. The aim of the project is to find a more reliable and robust tag for seabirds that can deliver truly accurate data on bird behaviour over the course of 12 months and improve on existing, accepted methods.

22 December  2017

Subsea 7 Awarded Huge Contract Offshore Norway
Work To Be Carried Out At Subsea 7 Yard at Wester Yard Near Wick.
Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) has announced the award of a substantial contract by Statoil for the Snorre Expansion Project, located in the Tampen area, 150 km west of Florø in Norway. The EPCI (engineering, procurement, construction and installation) contract includes Subsea 7's cost-effective Pipeline Bundle technology, which contains all flowlines and control umbilicals necessary for operation. The project features three Pipeline Bundles: West, East and North. Production of the Pipeline Bundle system will take place at Subsea 7's fabrication facilities at Wick, Scotland.

21 December  2017

Northlink Ferries To Operate Revised Timetable During Dry Dock Period
NorthLink Ferries has today published timetables confirming arrangements for the regular planned maintenance of its passenger vessels, with one vessel at a time due to be out of service between 22 January and 20 February. MV Hamnavoe, which operates between Scrabster and Stromness, will be removed from service from 22 January - 4 February 2017 and MV Hrossey and MV Hjaltland on the Aberdeen to Kirkwall and Lerwick route from 10 - 13 February and 17 - 20 February 2017.

Festive Workers At Dounreay Pledge £10k To Good Causes
Generous workers at Dounreay have pledged a staggering £10,000 to good causes in the run up to Christmas. Caithness Foodbank received a welcome boost this week when a cheque for £3,225 was handed over after donations were collected during the site's festive lunches. More than 1,500 meals were served on site this year as part of an annual Christmas treat from the company in charge of decommissioning the site


Major Contract To Support Next Stage Of Dounreay Clean-up
Construction of a new facility to support the decommissioning of reactors and demolition of historic active laboratories are just two of Dounreay's major projects expected to be delivered as part of a new framework agreement, potentially worth up to £400 million, which is being published in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) today.   The decommissioning services framework agreement will initially be for a period of up to 4 years with the possibility of extensions of up to 3 years meaning skyline changes could be delivered over the next decade under the arrangements. It will take Dounreay's decommissioning into a new phase, when historic wastes from the shaft, silo and low level waste pits are due to be retrieved, repackaged and consigned to modern waste facilities.

18 December  2017

Christmas Tree and Carols At Town and County Hospital, Wick
Supporters of CHAT  and local folks were out to see the Christmas Tree and sing some carols.  Lord Lieutenant John Thurso introduced the event and CHAT Vice Chairs Iain Baikie and Ron Gunn gave updates on what was happening.  Rev John Nugent led the carol singing.

17 December  2017

Town and County Hospital Christmas Memory Tree - Carols Round The Tree 6.30 - 7.00pm







Come along on Monday evening 18 December at 6.30pm for a short singing of carols led by the Rev John Nugent. Bring a bauble to hang on the tree.  A collection will be taken and all proceeds donated to the hospital. Take torches and candles so you can read the sheets.  CHAT supporters will be there to hand out.  Support your local hospitals.

13 December  2017

Developing Crafts Skills For A New Business? - Come To A Coffee Morning
Coffee Morning For Anyone Starting a Craft Business
Friday 15th December 10:00am - 1:00pm
Alastair Pilkington Studio, Main Street, Lybster
Do you want to learn and develop craft skills and be part of a new, local craft business? We want to help you make it happen! North Lands Creative has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government (Aspiring Communities Fund) to explore the possibility of setting up the North Lands Collective - a social enterprise which would benefit the local community. We are looking for a small group of potential participants (aged 18 and over) who live between Wick and Berriedale, and who are interested in learning or developing the craft and business skills needed to achieve this.

10 December  2017

Carols Round The Tree At Town and County Hospital  - Monday 18th December 6.30 - 7.00pm
 A huge carol service is to take place at Town and County Hospital as support for the staff and hospital grows in yet another display of local solidarity.   Visitor are asked to bring a  bauble or decoration for the tree which will sit outside.  Peope are aksed to bring canldes or torches to help read the carol sheets to be handed out.

Public Meeting to explore opportunity for Community Development Trust for Thurso and District
A chance To Have Your Say On Taking The Area Forward
Over the last year, a growing momentum of change is perceived to be developing. New councillors have been appointed in Thurso and District Ward, Thurso Town Improvements Association have been leading on new events for the area and Pay It Forward Thurso has been recruiting volunteers for community led activities. In addition to this groups in Halkirk, Castletown, Reay and the surrounding areas have been doing fantastic work regenerating village halls, creating play spaces and engaging with their residents and partnership working has increased with the formation of the Caithness Community Partnership.

Community Groups Christmas Trees Display
The annual display of Christmas Trees at St Fergus church, Wick by community groups has grown to its largest yet.  Several groups had people on hand to explain what their groups do and what a huge variety there was even though there are many more groups out there.  Tea, coffee and cakes made for a delightful visit.

7 December  2017

Wick Library and Swimming Pool open As Normal Today
Wick High School and local primary schools are closed but the pool and library remain open.

URGENT From Thurso Players -
Panto Cancelled Tonight due to Bad Weather and Thurso High School Is Closed

2 December  2017

Live Music Fund-Raiser For Wick Hogmanay Street Party

2 December  2017

Caithness Heart Support Group's coffee morning -Saturday 2 December 10.00am - Midday
Norseman Hotel, Wick

1 December  2017

The Best News For Wick Harbour In 100 Years
Wick Harbour Authority's Willie Watt calling its lease agreement with BOWL "the best news Wick harbour has had in 100 years".

Caithness And North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership - Update

RBS to close Wick branch

Santas Sleigh Times and Dates In Wick
Starting Wednesday night for two nights then two nights the following week.  Check the page for streets he will visit.

30 November 2017

Early final Christmas order dates ‘will shock last-minute shoppers'
Late shopping online can be a gamble so check these dates in this item with caution if you live in Caithness or the far north.  

27 November 2017

Christmas Trees Sale At Newtonhill Croft, Wick

26 November 2017

Work Going On To Make Embankment Collapse Safe At Children's Playpark
The collpase at the Children's Play Park has prompted a swift response with contractor's men out on Saturday and Sunday cutting trees and removing anything dangerous.




Wall Collapse At Wick Harbour
The wet weather has taken its toll on the old wall at Wick Harbour and has partially collapsed.  It remains to be seen how much more will have to be demolished if it has become unstable.

25 November 2017

Decorated Umbrella Parade and Christmas Lights Switch on at Wick
Despite another atrocious day for weather in Caithness the decorated umbrellas parade and switch on of the Christmas Lights went ahead.  Santa was kept busy chatting to kids in his hut in Market Square.

24 November 2017

Untaxed Cars Being Clamped and Abandoned Cars Removed - Fines and Tax Being Chased
Officers from Police Scotland working with a range of partner agencies have worked together to remove a number of abandoned and untaxed vehicles from the roads of the Highlands. The first week of action has seen in excess of 50 vehicles seized and 40 clamped. This action has followed a number of complaints from local residents regarding apparently abandoned vehicles and vehicles which have clearly been used without excise.  Anyone who wishes to report untaxed vehicles should do so online at the following online address:
https://forms.dft.gov.uk/report-an-untaxed-vehicle/

22 November 2017

More Rail Disruptions On Inverness To Wick Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th November
This time it is engineering works. This week has already seen landslips with one near Wick but they have been cleared.  Passengers face bus trips - see the link for details.

Snow Warning For Thursday
The Met Office has issued a yellow "be aware" warning for snow for large parts of Scotland on Thursday. It has forecast that snow showers will be "heavy and persistent" for a time in the morning, before easing during the afternoon. Up to 5cm could fall at lower levels, but up to 20cm on Scotland's mountains.

Thurso Players Panto - Robin Hood and The Babes in the Wood
The show starts at 7pm this year after several years with a 7.30pm start.
Can our favourite outlaw, Robin Hood, outwit the evil Sheriff of Nottingham who has hatched a cunning plan to dispose of his niece and nephew in Sherwood Forest so he can inherit their fortune? Come and join Robin's gang and help our hero win the day, and also win the heart of Maid Marian.

Tickets now on sale from McBeaths Jewellers, Thurso



Wick Lifeboat Aids Cargo Vessel Jomi
Wick Lifeboat called out by Shetland Coastguard at 09:35 this morning to go to the aid of a cargo vessel 'Jomi', half a mile offshore in Sinclair's Bay, Caithness. They had reported dragging its anchor in the Easterly swell and unable to get its engine started. The relief boat presently stationed at Wick made best speed to the scene. As the vessel was in danger of further slipping towards shore it was deemed best to call in the Wick lifeboat which was going to sea on trials following an electronics refit, to attend as well in the case of the vessel having to be towed to deeper and safer water.

Over £600,000 Flag Funding Still Available In Highland & Moray
Businesses and organisations are being encouraged to apply for funding through the Highland & Moray Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG) as part of the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund. Funding can be used to support a wide range of projects that will boost the local economy and create jobs within the fishing, aquaculture and maritime industries including tourism and seafood sectors.

21 November 2017

You're Invited! Open Evening at North Lands Creative
To celebrate the launch of our first Annual Winter Open Exhibition, we are delighted to invite the local community to join us at our Gallery at Quatre Bras from 7-9pm on Friday 24th November 2017. This exhibition is designed to provide an opportunity for Scottish artists to exhibit their work in our Gallery Space located just off the A9 at Lybster. This exhibition also offers the people of Caithness and the surrounding areas a chance to see work by many different artists, all at the same time. Our Winter Open Exhibition is an annual exhibition of work from artists across Scotland, chosen from an Open Submission call by North Lands Creative. Featured artists include local jeweller and scratch art artist, Lindsey Gallacher, Orcadian artist and designer, Louise Barrington, Garve-based digital artist, Angelica Kroeger and stained glass artist Kate Henderson.

17 November 2017

Too many staff apply for redundancy at Dounreay - Energy Voice
Dounreay bosses have been hit with an “over-subscription” of staff wanting to leave the nuclear plant under a redundancy programme which had sought 150 volunteers – 15% of the workforce.

15 November 2017

End Of The Dome Now In Sight At Dounreay
Dounreay Site Restoration Limited has submitted a planning application to the Highland Council covering a series of decommissioning projects expected to take place between 2018 and the site's shut down, also known as the interim end state. The application, which is the last of three planning phases covering the overall decommissioning of the site, follows engagement undertaken earlier this year including public events and an opportunity to comment on draft documents online.


Participatory Budgeting Steps Up
The announcement from COSLA that 1% of local authority spending is to be allocated through some kind of Participatory Budgeting process heralds a step change in terms of the scale of ambition for this method of allocating public funds - 1% equates to roughly £100m. To date, it's probably fair to say that most activity has centred on the allocation of relatively small pots of funding to local projects. This 1% commitment takes it to another level. What's not yet clear is what that level might look like. There should be some pointers in the mid-term evaluation of recent PB experience. So far in the Highland Council are Participatory Budgeting has been brought forward by putting relatively small amounts transferred from the local Discretionary Budget towards local votes to give money to local causes. Effectively allowing the public to choose rather than local councillors which groups should receive funds.

14 November 2017

Caithness to the Côte D'Azur - A New Book
Caithness to the Côte D'Azur When the Monte Carlo Rally Started from John O'Groats Limited Edition of 300 numbered copies.  ‘Many excellent books have been written about the Monte Carlo Rally but despite the fact that the first British winner started the rally from Caithness in 1926, the Scottish connection during the pre war years has been largely overlooked. This may be due to the lack of an overall winner from among the John O'Groats starters in subsequent years because of the complex scoring system which made it virtually impossible for them to achieve outright victory.    More Books

10 November 2017

Newsletter Award For Friends of the Far North Line  - Congratulations from Caithness.org
MSP praises campaign group for award. The honorary vice-president of Friends of the Far North line has lodged a motion in the Scottish Parliament praising the campaign group for winning a top award. Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, lodged the motion after hearing that the group and its newsletter editor, Ian Budd, had been awarded the Best Newsletter Gold Award. And they have nice web site.  You can support their campaign efforts by becoming a member for just £15 or £12 if you sign up for an annual amount via the bank.  The web site has lots of rail information and photos.  And Facebook..........

9 November 2017

Give Blood - Wednesday 15th November At Assembly Rooms, Wick

Phone ahead now to make your appointment


      Community Index






A Walk Round Central Thurso

4 November 2017

Highland Remembers - Remembrance Parades And Services  - Times Of Many parades etc
11th and 12th November parades and services

31 October 2017

Your Cash Your Caithness - Another Chance For Funds
Caithness Members of The Highland Council have set aside £15,000.00 from their Ward Discretionary Budgets to let the local community once again decide for themselves which projects are needed in their area. Whether you want to organise a dance for young people, a healthy living project, a crime prevention idea, a lunch club for older residents, a community art project, the only limit is your imagination. To apply for up to £1,500.00 you must submit an application before 5.00pm on Sunday 3 December 2017. If your idea fits, the community will get to vote for the best ideas at an event to be held on Saturday 27 January 2018 in Thurso. At the event you will be required to talk about your idea to the community. Those in attendance will then vote on all the applications and a decision will be made on the day.

SSE Sustainable Development Fund - Now Open for Applications
The criteria for the fund is as follows and more information is available on the fund guidelines and application form documents which are included below: Creating opportunities - increased opportunities for education and employment Empowering communities - build resilience and protect vulnerable residents Building sustainable places - stimulate meaningful community regeneration Completed applications should be sent to Marianne Townsley by 12 Noon on Wednesday 31 January 2018.

27 October 2017

Demonstations On Saturday 28th At Dunbar Hospital, Thurso and Town and County, Wick
Dunbar Hospital       Town and County







Everything is set for the demonstrations organised by CHAT in support of the health care services in Caithness ahead of another review by NHS Highland.

Demonstration times are -

Dunbar Hospital, Thurso  - Gathering 10.00am for press  photos calls etc - 10.15am march to Thurso High 
10.30am - Polticians from 4 parties to give their view on what is happening to health services in Caithness.

Town and County Hospital, Wick - Gathering 2.00pm for press and photos etc - 2.15pm march to Assembly Rooms.
2.30pm Politicians from 4 parties to give their view on what is happening to health servicesin Caithness.

CHAT Facebook

23 October 2017

Town and County Hospital - A Lovely Facility in Caithness But What Is Its Future?







The Town and County Hospital is shortly to be part of a review of health services in Caithness by NHS Highland.  In coming weeks a list of options wil be put up for public consultation.  A family have organised a candle lit vigil to show support for the hospital and its staff in memory of a relative cared for at the hospital. The vigil will start at 6.30pm on Thursday 26th October and is in advance of the rallies at Town and County Hospital and Dunbar Hospital in Thurso on Satruday 28th October.  The Caithness community has contributed many things to the hospital over the years and much work has been done on the gardens - it is a much loved and appreciated facility for Caithness.

YOUR CASH YOUR CAITHNESS - How would you change Caithness?
Do you have an idea that will make Caithness a better place for everyone? Do you need up to £1,500.00 to put your idea into action? If your answer is YES then ‘YOUR CASH YOUR CAITHNESS' is the opportunity for you to make your project happen. Deadline for applications is Sunday 3rd December 2017.

21 October 2017

Health and Wellbeing Day At Pulteney Centre
A few photos of some of the stalls and participants at the Health and well being day held in Pulteney Centre, Wick.  A few links with our photos to web sites for information if you did not manage along to pick up leaflets etc.  Most of the organisations there have web sites or phone numbers and there is a huge amount of help around if you know where to find it.

19 October 2017

New Beginnings Care Course - FREE







JUST ENTERPRISE/FIRSTPORT - 2 FREE WORKSHOPS IN WICK
Monday 23 October - Telford House, Williamson Street, Wick Planning & Delivery 10.30am - 12.30pm Branding & Marketing 1pm - 3pm

18 October 2017

Basic Food Hygiene Course For Voluntary Groups
Caithness Voluntary Group. Basic Food Hygiene Course, Telford House, Wick.
Tuesday 21st November, 10.30am - 12.30pm.
This is a two hour free course suitable for voluntary groups that may organise fundraising activities such as coffee mornings, food stalls or village hall events and need to know about food hygiene and food safety. The training is delivered by a NHS Community Food and Health Practitioner.


Do You Know Anything About This Go-Cart?
It is a long shot but someone is looking for this Go-cart sold 10 years ago.  Is it still aroundin Caithness?





Caithness Access Disabled Panel Questionnaire For Businesses
The above panel have been working over the last few years to build a website which would benefit people living in and visiting Caithness, in relation to visiting/using "accessible" services for people with disabilities.

JOSEPH KENNETH 'KEN' BUTLER- Obituary
Born 14.05.1939 at Warrington- Died 05.10.2017 at Thurso Caithness . Physicist & Botanist ; Assistant Director at the Dounreay Nuclear Power Establishment & published botanical author. The death of physicist J. Kenneth 'Ken' Butler at the age of 79 after a three-year battle with cancer, brings to an end a direct link with the earliest days of the Dounreay Nuclear Power Establishment, just ten miles from his home at Thurso, Scotland's only North coast town.

14 October 2017

Caithness Heart Support Group handed over equipment to Wick GP surgeries
Caithness Heart Support Group handed over the latest equipment it has funded, to the medical practices at Wick GP surgeries.

 

12 October 2017

Wick event to focus on health and wellbeing services
THE county's second Health and Wellbeing Market is taking place at the Pulteney Centre in Wick on Saturday, 21st October 2017. There will be 23 stalls offering information on health and wellbeing services that can be accessed in Caithness. The event is being organised by Caithness Health Improvement Forum with Caithness Voluntary Group (CVG), Pulteneytown People's Project (PPP) and the NHS, and will run from 11am to 3pm. It follows on from the first Health and Wellbeing Market which was held at the same venue in April 2016 and attended by around 170 people. The aim is to showcase the wide range of opportunities available locally to benefit general health as well as mental, spiritual, emotional and social wellbeing.     Community Index

Living Better With a Long Term Condition - Check Out The Boccia Group In Wick







Wick Swimming Pool - opening times for School Holidays
More public swimming time during school holidays as o swimming lessons.

Thurso Swimming Pool - opening times for School Holidays
Plenty time for swimming right now.


CHAT 100 Mile Helper Kits READY TO GO
Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) have now put the 100 Mile Helper Kits together and wil shortly be distrubuting them to Hositals and GP practices. The 100 Mile Helper kits are good to go! First batches going to hospitals today. CHAT said "Thank you so much for all the donations that made these possible."
     
      CHAT new web site launched                  CHAT Facebook

Caithness Soup - Local Crowd Funding (with soup)

9 October 2017

St Fergus Bowling Club Donates £300 to Laurandy Day Care Centre
St Fergus Bowling club in Wick recently donated £300 to the Laurandy Day Care Centre in Wick. St Fergus Bowling Club Chairman Malky Mackay handed over a cheque for £300 to Laurandy Centre chairman Bill Fernie.  Bill Fernie thanked the St. Fergus club for their generous donation and said,"I continue to be amazed at the giving by groups and individuals in Wick towards out centre that recently took over care for the Alzheimer's group that closed. We need to fund raise continually to maintain the services we provide. The staff and volunteers at Laurandy do wonderful job for the elderly in our community and I know from speaking to many people that the service is highly valued."

Parents from far north 'let down' by Raigmore Hospital - Inverness Courier
A NEW mum whose baby was born prematurely put a plea on Facebook for a spare room after she felt let down by the family hospital accommodation at Raigmore Hospital. Demi Mitchell, from Helmsdale, was given a room in the special unit so she could be close to her baby, who has been kept in the hospital’s special baby care unit after being born weighing just 2lbs and 13ozs. But she was left "heartbroken" after a strict ‘no children’ rule at the hospital’s free accommodation block forced her to be parted from her two-year-old daughter, who was left pining at home nearly 70 miles away.

Wedding Dresses Display Cash Handed Over To CHAT
Rev. John Nugent the minister at St Fergus Church handed over £794 from the Wedding Dresses display by the ladies at St Fergus Church, Wick. Bill Fernie, chairman of Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) thanked the ladies who organised the display and accepted the money on behalf of CHAT. Bill said,"The generosity of Caithness people has been truly amazing and they are rallying round the campaign to fight cuts to health services in the north." Bill spent the day at the display in St Fergus church and spoke to many of the people who attended to see the dresses and look at the many wedding photos.

Wedding Dresses Display At St Fergus Church, Wick in aid of CHAT Funds
The ladies of St Fergus church rallied round to help Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT) with yet another fund raiser.  Each year they choose a cause to support either abroad or local  This year they decide to help CHAT in their efforts to stop continued reduction in local health services by NHS Highland.  Some of the ladies who visited the display were in their 80's and 90's determined to show their support and spoke about the many times they or their families had used health services locally and in particular maternity services in Caithness.

6 October 2017

Wedding Memorabilia Display in aid of CHAT
at St Fergus Church, Wick Saturday 7th October 10.30am - 3.30pm
Call in to see the display and support CHAT.

Final Leg Of Tesco Lands End to John O'Groats Walk
TESCO walkers had to brave wind and rain on the last, Caithness lap of their end-to-end charity walk bit got a champagne reception at John O' Groats. This was the final year of the National Charity Partnership with Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation.

3 October 2017

Praise for B876 Killimster Moss road refurbishment
A stretch of the Caithness Wick to Thurso road at Killimster Moss was refurbished over a four week programme of improvement and reopened on Friday 29 September. This in-house project by The Highland Council saw Development and Infrastructure staff design the road refurbishment and Community Services staff carry out the works. The Council teams received loud praise from local Wick and East Caithness Councillor Willie Mackay.


The men who worked on the road with Councillor Mackay
Caithness Civic leader Cllr Willie Mackay (centre) cuts the tape at the opening of the newly refurbished half mile Killimster Moss stretch of the B876 Wick to Thurso road. Looking on are some of the Highland council workers praised for the project which was done on time and within budget. From left Kevin Mackay Community works officer, Colin Smith, Ian Rainford, Donald Cormack and Alastair Mackenzie.

2 October 2017

Thurso volunteers planning BIG clean up of Riverside area  - You Can Help
The Pay it Forward Thurso collective have been very busy in recent weeks cleaning up various areas of Thurso. They have worked to weed along Victoria Walk and the Esplanade area. The activity by the group has encouraged residents of Thurso to go out and clean up their own areas of the town. Two young brothers Kian and Jayden Mackay completed a litter pick around their home in Harold Drive and a weeding mission was completed by the residents of Bower Court on the pathways surrounding their homes. Keeping the momentum going and keen to make the most of the autumnal weather before winter sets in Pay it Forward Thurso in conjunction with Thurso Town Improvements Association are preparing for the BIG Riverside clean this weekend Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th October from 10am - 4pm.   You can contribute time or a small donation to help.

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